Royal Caribbean announced it will bring back Explorer of the Seas two days early due to an outbreak of astrointestinal illness that affected over 300 people onboard.  Royal Caribbean will take the extra time to santize the ship completely.

Explorer of the Seas will return on January 29 and perform a thorough “barrier” sanitization program on the entire ship to make certain that any remaining traces of the illness are eliminated. It will be the third aggressive sanitizing procedure the ship has undertaken since Royal Caribbean became aware of the issue, and will additionally provide a window of more than 24 hours where there are no persons aboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean made the decision after consulting with represenatives of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with their own medical team.

Royal Caribbean apologized to its guests for disappointing them and will take "several steps to compensate them for their inconvenience."

A medical team is currently working to determine if the illness that spread across Explorer of the Seas is indeed Norovirus.

Royal Caribbean also mentioned new reports of the illness by guesta have decreased day-over-day and others previously ailing are now feeling better. It appears that reported illnesses among guests and crew peaked during the first few days of the cruise

The Centers for Diseas Control and Prevention is reporting that as of January 24, 2014, 281 of 3,050 passengers have reported symptoms that resemble norovirus.  In addition 22 of 1,165 crewmembers have reported symptoms.

Royal Caribbean is taking these actions to minimize the problem.

• Increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures according to their outbreak prevention and response plan
• Making announcements to both notify onboard passengers of the outbreak and encourage case reporting
• Collecting stool specimens from ill passengers and crew for submission to the CDC lab
• Making multiple daily reports of gastrointestinal illness cases to the VSP
• Preparing additional crew members to join the ship mid-voyage to assist with case management and intensified sanitation procedures
• Consulting with CDC on plans for:
  • Passenger notification procedures and the planned delayed embarkation schedule in Bayonne, NJ on January 31, 2014,
  • Disembarkation plans for active cases, terminal and transport infection control procedures.

​As stated, the next Explorer of the Seas sailing on January 31, 2014 will be delayed for cleaning.

Unfortunately this is the second Royal Caribbean ship this month to suffer the effects of a norovirus outbreak, with Majesty of the Seas having one last week.

Norovirus causes symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain.  It's spread from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces.  It's important for every cruise passenger on every cruise ship to take steps to avoid getting norovirus.

Royal Caribbean will move Explorer of the Seas out of Bayonne, New Jersey and right into Port Canaveral, Florida in November 2014.

Explorer of the Seas will offer a range of four- to nine-night Bahamas, and Western and Southern Caribbean vacations.  Explorer will join Freedom of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas, which are based in Port Canaveral year-round.  Explorer of the Seas’ 2014 holiday season cruises from Port Canaveral are now open for sale.

Explorer of the Seas will sail four Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Port Canaveral through Jan. 4, 2015. On these five-night itineraries, guests call at Cozumel, Mexico, and Nassau, The Bahamas, or CocoCay and Cozumel. Vacationers also can choose two Southern Caribbean sailings on a nine-night itinerary that call at each of the ABC Islands and Labadee.

Additionally, a five-night Bahamas cruise, departing Dec. 13, 2014, will call at Nassau, Grand Bahamas Island and CocoCay. Guests on a special four-night sailing, departing Dec. 23, will call at Labadee on Christmas Day. The following eight-night Caribbean itinerary will herald in the New Year in St. Maarten, as well as call at San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and Labadee. Vacationers also can choose an extended 14-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, departing Nov. 1, 2014, which repositions Explorer of the Seas from Cape Liberty to Port Canaveral via the Southern Caribbean.

Explorer of the Seas, a Voyager class ship, had spent 8 consecutive years in the New York metro area.

The President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, met with executives from Royal Caribbean as part of his government plan to make the Dominican economy more based around tourism.

Medina was received by Captain Henrik Loy, captain of the cruise Explorer of the Seas while she was anchored in the Bay of Samana.

One of the objectives stated by the president is boost cruise tourism and work on a cruise ship terminal in the Dominican Republic.

Michael Ronan, Royal Caribbean Regional Vice President made ​​a presentation to foreign and domestic entrepreneurs, including  Federico Schad , Director of Services and Bay Cruise Tejera Rafael Blanco, president of Dominican Tourism Competitiveness Consortium.

It is the first time a Dominican president addressed a cruise ship operator in an effort promote this important form of tourism.

Photo by tPFmariah9999

Photo by Xiomara Amaro

Royal Caribbean has announced the Winter 2013-2014 itineraries for Explorer of the Seas.  Explorer of the Seas will continue sailing out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey where it is home ported throughout the year.

Explorer of the Seas will begin with an 11-night Southern Caribbean cruise, departing Nov. 3, 2013, which calls at San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Antigua and St. Kitts. Vacationers also can choose a range of nine- or 10-night itineraries that take guests to three paradisiacal Eastern Caribbean ports, plus Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination on the north coast of Haiti. Eastern Caribbean ports include San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Samana in the Dominican Republic.

In addition, passengers can choose to cruise on 7-night cruises to the Bahamas, with stops at Nassau, Bahamas; Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay. The Dec. 22 and 29 departure will see guests celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Day, respectively, at Nassau; while the Mar. 21, 2014 sailing will offer guests an eighth night at sea.

In April 2014, Explorer of the Seas will offer a pair of five-night Bermuda and nine-night Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries. The shorter sailing features an overnight at Kings Wharf, while the longer itinerary calls at Kings Wharf, St. Maarten, San Juan and Labadee.

Royal Caribbean has announced the summer and fall 2013 itineraries for Explorer of the Seas.  During both seasons, Explorer of the Seas will undertake 30 cruises to 17 different ports of call based on 7 itineraries.

From April to October 2013, Explorer of the Seas will sail out of New York City to Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada and New England.

Explorer will remained in her home port of Cape Liberty, New Jersey. 

From April through August 2012, Explorer of the Seas will alternate five-night Bermuda and nine-night Bermuda & Caribbean itineraries. The five-night itinerary will feature an overnight at Kings Wharf, Bermuda, while the nine-night sailing calls at Kings Wharf; St. Maarten; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private destination on the north coast of Haiti. From September through October, vacationers can choose a seven-night Bermuda itinerary, which features three days and two nights at Kings Wharf.

Explorer of the Seas will also offer vacationers a Canada and New England sailing to catch the arrival of autumn and the changing of the leaves. Departing Aug. 31, guests will call at Boston, Mass.; Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas will return to Bayonne, New Jersey one day late due to an onboard medical emergency.  Royal Caribbean expects Explorer of the Seas to return on Saturday, January 28 now after a passenger required medical attention.

Royal Caribbean spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez issued this statement, "The guest was initially treated in our medical facility, but required additional and urgent medical attention that could only be provided in a hospital," read the statement. Explorer, which is equipped with a helipad, has re-charted a course for San Juan, Puerto Rico, the closest port of call. A helicopter will meet the ship when it gets within 70 miles of San Juan. Estimated time is 5:35 p.m. local time."

"We will be assisting both the guests currently onboard and those boarding on Saturday, but do not have details at this time," said Martinez. "We wanted to put the notice on our website and on social media as soon as possible, to let affected guests know in advance." Additional information on the revised itinerary will be provided to passengers on Saturday at embarkation.

Passengers that were expecting to depart on Explorer of the Seas' next cruise on Friday are now asked to not arrive at port until 2pm on Saturday.

A passenger aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas had to be medically evacuated yesterday after she experienced symptoms of appendicitis.

The incident occurred on December 12 approximately 130 miles southwest of Key West, Florida as the ship was making her way back to Port Everglades, Florida.  A United States Coast Guard helicoper hoisted the woman off the ship and brought her to the Lower Keys Medical Center.